High capacity wireless multimedia transmission with unequal error protection over Rayleigh fading channel

Efficient use of the available bandwidth and power resources for real-time multimedia transmission with high data rate and quality of service guarantee is one of the main challenges for next generation wireless systems. In image and video applications, the reception quality is highly sensitive to transmission delay, data loss, and error performance. Therefore, feasible transmission techniques over realistic channel conditions and detection methods are required to meet the increasing demands of multimedia services. In this paper, adaptive real-time communication (ARTC) system based superposition coding and layered detection is proposed for higher capacity visual data transmission over Rayleigh fading channel with unequal error protection (UEP). In the transmitter side, the source data is splitted into two streams depending on their importance, high priority and low priority. These two bit streams are modulated individually using different adjustable power allocation ratio according to partial feedback of channel state information with a constraint of total transmitted power during every symbol period. The received signal is detected using low complexity layered receiver with successive interference cancellation. To evaluate the system performance, constellation constrained capacity formula is derived. Under same resources of bandwidth, power, and time, extensive simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed ARTC scheme and shows significant improvement in capacity and bit-error-rate compared with the conventional direct single stream transmission and hierarchical modulation. Furthermore, the unequal importance characteristics of visual data are well exploited to attain reliable communication with UEP property.     

Unequal error protection for MPEG-2 video transmission over wireless channels

This paper proposes an unequal error protection (UEP) method for MPEG-2 video transmission. Since the source and channel coders are normally concatenated, if the channel is noisy, more bits are allocated to channel coding and fewer to source coding. The situation is reversed when the channel conditions are more benign. Most of the joint source channel coding (JSCC) methods assume that the video source is subband coded, the bit error sensitivity of the source code can be modeled, and the bit allocations for different subband channels will be calculated. The UEP applied to different subbands is the rate compatible punctured convolution channel coder. However, the MPEG-2 coding is not a subband coding, the bit error sensitivity function for the coded video can no longer be applied. Here, we develop a different method to find the rate-distortion functions for JSCC of the MPEG-2 video. In the experiments, we show that the end-to-end distortion of our UEP method is smaller than the equal error protection method for the same total bit-rate.     

基于抗差错算术编码的不等差错保护图像传输方法

JPEG2000图像的分层特性要求采用不等差错保护方法以实现高效传输,本文提出了一种新型的不等差错保护方法,对不同位平面采用不同码率的抗差错算术码进行编码.与基于信道编码的不等差错保护方法相比,该方法保持了压缩码流的结构,避免了复杂的信道成帧过程.与已有的基于抗差错算术码的等差错保护方法相比,该方法提高了传输图像的质量.     

基于LDPC码的小波图像传输码率优化

LDPC码是一种具有低复杂度,强纠错能力的信道分组编码结构,SPIHT算法是嵌入式小波图像压缩编码中性能较好的一种。文中充分考虑SPIHT算法和LDPC码的特性,提出了根据信源编码后的数据在解码重建时的重要程度进行不等纠错保护的信源信道联合编码方案。实验表明,该方案有利于压缩图像在噪声信道上的可靠传输,提高系统整体纠错性能。     

Unequal error protection by modulation with unequal power allocation

In digital communication systems for speech, audio or video signals the individual bits of the transmitted parameters u exhibit different bit error sensitivities. Usually channel coding with unequal error protection (UEP) is applied. However, some transmission systems do not include channel coding for several reasons. For this situation, a novel concept is proposed which achieves UEP by allocating different transmission power to individual bits according to their bit error sensitivities. The optimization criterion for unequal power allocation is the mean square of the error between the original parameter-u and the decoded parameter u which has a strong correlation with subjective perception.     

采用数据扩展技术在OFDM系统中实现不等错误保护传输

本文提出了采用数据扩展技术在正交频分复用（OFDM）系统中实现不等错误保护（UEP）传输的自适应调制算法。利用原始数据符号传输特性相同的特点,分别研究了以提高信道容量为目标,功率一定,最大化传输速率的不等错误保护UEP算法;以及以用户需求为目标,传输速率一定,最小化总功率的不等错误保护UEP算法。这两种算法均可根据待传输数据的要求,保证不同优先级数据的不同传输质量和不同传输速率。仿真结果表明,最大化传输速率UEP算法可以在速率最大化的同时,保证传输质量要求;最小化总功率UEP算法可以在最小化发射功率的前提下,保证传输质量要求。与传统OFDM系统中相应算法的比较结果可以看出,采用数据扩展技术可以大大降低算法复杂度,减少有关调制参数信息的传输,在实现UEP时,在性能和复杂度之间具有较好的折中,具有较高的实际应用价值。      

Error Protection and Interleaving for Wireless Transmission of JPEG 2000 Images and Video

The transmission of JPEG 2000 images or video over wireless channels has to cope with the high probability and burstyness of errors introduced by Gaussian noise, linear distortions, and fading. At the receiver side, there is distortion due to the compression performed at the sender side, and to the errors introduced in the data stream by the channel. Progressive source coding can also be successfully exploited to protect different portions of the data stream with different channel code rates, based upon the relative importance that each portion has on the reconstructed image. Unequal error protection (UEP) schemes are generally adopted, which offer a close to the optimal solution. In this paper, we present a dichotomic technique for searching the optimal UEP strategy, which lends ideas from existing algorithms, for the transmission of JPEG 2000 images and video over a wireless channel. Moreover, we also adopt a method of virtual interleaving to be used for the transmission of high bit rate streams over packet loss channels, guaranteeing a large PSNR advantage over a plain transmission scheme. These two protection strategies can also be combined to maximize the error correction capabilities.     

Rate-distortion optimal video transport over IP allowing packets with bit errors.

We propose new models and methods for rate-distortion (RD) optimal video delivery over IP, when packets with bit errors are also delivered. In particular, we propose RD optimal methods for slicing and unequal error protection (UEP) of packets over IP allowing transmission of packets with bit errors. The proposed framework can be employed in a classical independent-layer transport model for optimal slicing, as well as in a cross-layer transport model for optimal slicing and UEP, where the forward error correction (FEC) coding is performed at the link layer, but the application controls the FEC code rate with the constraint that a given IP packet is subject to constant channel protection. The proposed method uses a novel dynamic programming approach to determine the optimal slicing and UEP configuration for each video frame in a practical manner, that is compliant with the AVC/H.264 standard. We also propose new rate and distortion estimation techniques at the encoder side in order to efficiently evaluate the objective function for a slice configuration. The cross-layer formulation option effectively determines which regions of a frame should be protected better; hence, it can be considered as a spatial UEP scheme. We successfully demonstrate, by means of experimental results, that each component of the proposed system provides significant gains, up to 2.0 dB, compared to competitive methods.     

Performance Bounds for Unequal Error Protecting Turbo Codes

In many communications systems, data can be divided into different importance levels. For these systems, unequal error protection (UEP) techniques are used to guarantee lower BER for the more important classes. In particular, if the precise characteristics of the channel are not known, UEP can be used to recover the more important classes even in poor receiving conditions. In this paper, we derive bounds on the performance of unequal error protecting turbo codes. These bounds serve as an important tool in predicting the performance of these codes. In order to derive the bounds, we introduce the notion of UEPuniform interleaver which is a random interleaver that does not change the order of classes in the turbo code frame. We also present a method to derive the weight enumerating function for UEP turbo codes.     

Transmission of block turbo coded digital audio over FM-SCA

In this paper, an efficient coded scheme for transmitting digital audio over the existing FM channel, by multiplexing it with the baseband FM signal, is described. Transmission of multiplexed signals in the FM baseband called FM-SCA (subsidiary communications authorization) has been previously used for low quality analog content and some low rate digital content. The investigated scheme opens up the possibility of achieving CD quality audio over FM-SCA by enabling high bitrate transmission using MPEG-I layer 3 and MPEG-AAC audio coding for the digital audio. These schemes provide CD quality audio at or below 128 kbps, MPEG-AAC being able to do so at rates as low as 96 kbps. Block turbo codes (BTC), which offer near Shannon's limit performance with relatively low hardware complexity requirements, provide the error protection. Block turbo codes have been shown to be particularly effective for high coding rates. The system uses OFDM in conjunction with 8PSK/16PSK to modulate the digital bitstream and fit it in the 44 kHz (54 to 98 kHz) band available in the FM baseband. Simulation results show an optimal system configuration for digital audio transmission in FM-SCA.     

Highly scalable JPEG image transmission with unequal error protection and optimal feedback

This paper investigates the performance of three different Unequal Error Protection (UEP) schemes for progressive JPEG image transmission using delay-constrained hybrid ARQ, with iterative bit and symbol combining. The first UEP scheme considers only the optimization of channel code-rates and keeps the number of retransmissions fixed for all the subbands of the image. The second one optimizes both the channel code-rates and retransmissions, while the third only considers the optimal allocation of retransmission requests. The UEP schemes are designed with two different coding techniques. The first one employs Rate Compatible Punctured Turbo Codes (RCPT) with iterative bit combining and, is suitable for applications requiring high power efficiency. For the second one we propose a new coding strategy, Rate Compatible Punctured Turbo Trellis Coded Modulation (RCPTTCM) with iterative symbol combining, which provides high scalability and bandwidth efficiency. Gains of over 9 dB in Peak-Signal-to-Noise-Ratio are obtained with the UEP schemes as compared to their corresponding Equal Error Protection (EEP) schemes.     

比特交织Turbo编码调制的8PSK符号映射

基于对Turbo编码器输出的系统比特和校验比特的不等错误保护(UEP),提出了一种新的比特交织Turbo编码调制(BITCM)的8PSK符号映射方案,即对于码率为1/3的Turbo码,校验比特映射到8PSK星座点中具有较好传输性能的比特位置上,而系统比特映射到较差传输性能的比特位置上。实现新映射方案的关键是比特交织器的设计。仿真结果表明,新的映射方案在AWGN信道下,误码率为10-3时,可获得大于0.2dB的信噪比增益,而这一增益的获得并没有牺牲频谱效率和增加系统的复杂性。     

A robust joint source channel coding scheme for image transmission over the ionospheric channel

In this paper, we propose a joint source channel coding (JSCC) scheme to the transmission of fixed images for wireless communication applications. The ionospheric channel which presents some characteristics identical to those found on mobile radio channels, like fading, multipath and Doppler effect is our test channel. As this method based on a wavelet transform, a self-organising map (SOM) vector quantization (VQ) optimally mapped on a QAM digital modulation and an unequal error protection (UEP) strategy, this method is particularly well adapted to low bit-rate applications. The compression process consists in applying a SOM VQ on the discrete wavelet transform coefficients and computing several codebooks depending on the sub-images preserved. An UEP is achieved with a correcting code applied on the most significant data. The JSCC consists of an optimal mapping of the VQ codebook vectors on a high spectral efficiency digital modulation. This feature allows preserving the topological organization of the codebook along the transmission chain while keeping a reduced complexity system. This method applied on grey level images can be used for colour images as well. Several tests of transmission for different images have shown the robustness of this method even for high bit error rate (BER>10⁻²). In order to qualify the quality of the image after transmission, we use a PSNR% (peak signal-to-noise ratio) parameter which is the value of the difference of the PSNR after compression at the transmitter and after reception at the receiver. This parameter clearly shows that 95% of the PSNR is preserved when the BER is less than 10⁻².     

Turbo codes-based image transmission for channels with multiple types of distortion

Product codes are generally used for progressive image transmission when random errors and packet loss (or burst errors) co-exist. However, the optimal rate allocation considering both component codes gives rise to high-optimization complexity. In addition, the decoding performance may be degraded quickly when the channel varies beyond the design point. In this paper, we propose a new unequal error protection (UEP) scheme for progressive image transmission by using rate-compatible punctured Turbo codes (RCPT) and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes only. By sophisticatedly interleaving each coded frame, the packet loss can be converted into randomly punctured bits in a Turbo code. Therefore, error control in noisy channels with different types of errors is equivalent to dealing with random bit errors only, with reduced turbo code rates. A genetic algorithm-based method is presented to further reduce the optimization complexity. This proposed method not only gives a better performance than product codes in given channel conditions but is also more robust to the channel variation. Finally, to break down the error floor of turbo decoding, we further extend the above RCPT/CRC protection to a product code scheme by adding a Reed-Solomon (RS) code across the frames. The associated rate allocation is discussed and further improvement is demonstrated.     

Combined Speech and Channel Coding for Wireless Communications

In this paper, we propose acombined variable-rate code-excited linearly predictive (QCELP)speech coding and unequal error protection (UEP) channel codingsystem for wireless communications. In contrast to theconventional schemes, our system employs a concatenatedsuper-imposed rate-compatible punctured convolutional (SI-RCPC)channel coding scheme which can provide UEP with respect to notonly the bit-significance of speech packets but also the speechactivity and local channel characteristics. Verified by thesimulation results, the combined system achieves an averagetransmission rate less than 8 kb/s as well as an average 2 dBsignal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain over the conventional equal errorprotection system.     

AMR的信道编码设计及其DSP实现

对于超短波移动通信系统中AMR语音业务的传输，提出了基于码率兼容的删余卷积码和码率兼容的删余Turbo码这2种可变的不等差错保护信道编码方案。通过设计最优的删余方案和合适的速率匹配方法，这2种不等差错保护方案都可达到类内不等保护的目的，将对具有不同重要性的信源比特的作更精确不等保护。并基于DSP芯片TMS320C6416实时实现了这2种方案对AMR语音的不等差错保护。实验结果表明，这种方法具有合理的系统复杂度和很短的处理延时，适合于语音业务的应用。     

Modulation-assisted unequal error protection over the fadingchannel

Unequal error protection (UEP) is essential when different portions of the source data do not contribute evenly to the overall duality of the decoded information. Conventional techniques achieve UEP by independent coding of the bit streams or by adopting conventional unequal error-protection codes. In this paper, we propose a practical alternative to the QPSK-based transmission systems with explicit UEP, such as GSM or IS-54 wireless transmission standards. In this scheme, the task of providing unequal protection is divided between the channel encoder and a nonuniform signal set, which discriminates in favor of the more important bits. The new approach allows for a simpler convolutional encoder and, hence, a less complex decoding procedure. Specifically, a reduction by more than half in the number of encoder states can easily be achieved using our scheme. Countering the degradation of the less important bits, we propose to adopt a high-rate punctured convolutional code to minimize the incurred transmission rate penalty. We also discuss a pilot sequence transmission scheme which realizes a coherent reception. Decentralizing the bit protection culminates in an extra degree of freedom which, in turn, introduces more flexibility into the system design     

High reliability of real-time visual data transmission using superposition coding with receiver diversity

Supporting visual data applications in the real-time communication systems are among the most challenging issues over the next generation wireless communication systems. This challenge is further magnified by the fact that the quality of reception is highly sensitive to transmission delay, data losses and bit error rate (BER) in such applications. In this paper, we proposed Superposition Coding with Receiver Diversity (SPC-RD) scheme, which employs unequal error protection (UEP) to improve the error performance, maximize the received signal to noise ratio (SNR) and optimize the reliability of the transmission system. In the transmitter side, the visual data is divided into a number of different priority layers based on their effects on the reception quality. These layers are modulated individually where the highest priority layer is modulated with the highest UEP level against error-prone channels, and vice versa. These modulated signals are then superimposed together and transmitted via wireless Single-Input Multiple-Output (SIMO) Rayleigh fading channel. In the receiver side, three different diversity combining approaches; selection combining (SC), equal gain combining (EGC) and maximal ratio combining (MRC) are considered. The combined signal is then passed through a multiuser demodulator so-called the ordered successive interference cancellation (O-SIC) demodulator to reconstruct and separate the data layers. This demodulation technique is evaluated and compared with the traditionally maximum likelihood joint detection (MLJD) technique. Extensive simulations have been carried out to validate the various assertions. Under the assumption of equal transmission power, the simulation results illustrate that the proposed SPC-RD scheme provides a SNR gain of 14.5 dB over the Rayleigh fading channel at the diversity order of three for the acceptable BER level of 10^?3 when BPSK scheme is exploited compared to the traditional equal error protection system. In addition, the proposed scheme with O-SIC demodulation technique achieves almost similar performance compared to MLJD technique but using less computational complexity.     

Progressive image transmission over differentially space‐time coded OFDM systems

In this paper, we consider progressive image transmission over differentially space‐time coded orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM) systems and treat the problem as one of optimal joint source‐channel coding (JSCC) in the form of unequal error protection (UEP), as necessitated by embedded source coding (e.g., SPIHT and JPEG 2000). We adopt a product channel code structure that is proven to provide powerful error protection and employ low‐complexity decision‐feedback decoding for differentially space‐time coded OFDM without assuming channel state information. For a given SNR, the BER performance of the differentially space‐time coded OFDM system is treated as the channel condition in the JSCC/UEP design via a fast product code optimization algorithm so that the end‐to‐end quality of reconstructed images is optimized in the average minimum MSE sense. Extensive image transmission experiments show that SNR/BER improvements can be translated into quality gains in reconstructed images. Moreover, compared to another non‐coherent detection algorithm, i.e., the iterative receiver based on expectation‐maximization algorithm for the space‐time coded OFDM systems, differentially space‐time coded OFDM systems suffer some quality loss in reconstructed images. With the efficiency and simplicity of decision‐feedback differential decoding, differentially space‐time coded OFDM is thus a feasible modulation scheme for applications such as wireless image over mobile devices (e.g., cell phones). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.